By: Andrew Lacy Posted at: 10/04/2012 11:07 AMCORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) — Shawn Eichorst has resigned as Miami's athletic director for the same role at Nebraska, which gave him a five-year contract to become Tom Osborne's replacement with the Cornhuskers.

The schools announced the moves Thursday.

For Miami, it's the latest blow to a department bracing for potentially severe NCAA sanctions. Former Maine athletic director Blake James will become the acting AD for the Hurricanes, who were under Eichorst's leadership only since April 2011.

Eichorst's starting salary at Nebraska will be $973,000 annually, believed to be a significant raise over his Miami deal. As a private school, the Hurricanes typically do not release contract information.

Eichorst starts as special assistant to the chancellor Oct. 9 at Nebraska, where the 75-year-old Osborne announced late last month that he will retire Jan. 1.